President Donald Trump’s order barring CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House quickly became more than a social media warning. Reporters from all three organizations were turned away Saturday as their press credentials were disabled or confiscated. Video circulating online showed media personnel wheeling camera cases and other equipment away from the White House press area. The affected outlets responded with immediate denunciations and pledges to fight the decision on First Amendment grounds.
Trump announced the ban Friday, September 18th, in a Truth Social post and said it was effective immediately. The president accused the three outlets of repeatedly publishing “FAKE NEWS” about him, his administration, and the country. When reporters later asked what prompted the move, Trump said there was no single story behind it and described the decision as the result of years of coverage. He also argued that the organizations were not entitled to continued access to the White House.
The video at the center of the latest online reaction was first posted by Bianca Gracia and later shared by The Patriot Oasis. The short clip shows several people moving through the White House media workspace while large equipment bags and wheeled camera cases are carried down the driveway. Other members of the press stand nearby as the gear is rolled away from the work area. The caption declared that the reporters and staff were being “THROWN OUT of the White House.”
The ban was enforced the following morning. Reuters reported that representatives of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico said their teams’ press passes were confiscated when they arrived at the White House on Saturday. The action followed through on Trump’s announcement rather than leaving it as merely a rhetorical threat. CNN correspondent Betsy Klein later reported from the sidewalk outside the complex after being denied entry.
Trump defended his move by accusing the organizations of deliberately producing negative coverage intended to damage Republicans and his administration. He said the problem was cumulative and told reporters that the country needed honest news. Trump also warned that the three organizations might not be the last to lose access, writing, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.” When pressed for examples, he identified The New York Times and The Washington Post as outlets he also considers fake news, though he did not announce bans against either one.
Watch the media equipment being hauled away here:
🔥🚨 LOL — New Video shows CNN, MSNOW, and Politico reporters and staff being THROWN OUT of the White House.
Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you! pic.twitter.com/vXokdruK74
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) September 19, 2026
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The three organizations identified the reporters directly affected. The Associated Press reported that CNN’s Betsy Klein and MS NOW’s Akayla Gardner had their badges deactivated, while Politico White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was denied entry and had her credential confiscated. Gardner said she passed through two gates before an officer told her the badge had been disabled and requested that she surrender it. Klein said officials returned the empty plastic credential holder after taking her badge.
CNN called the ban an illegal attack on its constitutional rights and said it would continue covering the administration. MS NOW said it planned to take whatever steps were necessary to defend its First Amendment rights, while Politico promised to vigorously defend its own access. White House Correspondents’ Association president Jacqui Heinrich called for the credentials to be restored. The outlets signaled that legal challenges could follow, and CNN and MS NOW said they would continue reporting on the Trump administration.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.